CHICAGO — Bulls guard Javonte Green will miss two to four weeks with a strained groin, coach Billy Donovan said Monday before Chicago’s game against the Orlando Magic.
Green has carved out a role for himself as a solid contributor to Chicago’s success this season. He was inserted into the starting lineup after Patrick Williams‘ wrist injury and has started 18 of his 29 games this season, averaging 5.8 points and 4.2 rebounds per game while shooting 36.4% from 3.
When Green is on the court, the Bulls are 6 points per 100 possessions better compared to when he sits.
“Javonte has played really well for us and he’s been great,” Donovan said. “It is a tough loss. I think he’s complemented that first unit really, really well.
“He’s been such a big part of our team and has played so well, but we’ll have to figure out different ways to try and make up his energy. I think in a lot of ways when you’re playing as many games as you are, even the back-to-back against Indiana and Washington, you need energy. He’s one of those guys that provide it.”
Derrick Jones Jr. replaced Green in the starting lineup Monday night. The Bulls were also without assistant coach Josh Longstaff, who entered health and safety protocols, and forward Tyler Cook, who will be out for a few weeks with a “pretty significant” ankle sprain, according to Donovan.
Their absences come at a time where the Bulls were just starting to get whole.
Both Donovan and guard Lonzo Ball returned from health and safety protocols for Monday’s game. Donovan said he had a cold for a few days but bounced back shortly after. He nearly returned in time to coach Saturday’s game against the Washington Wizards, but he couldn’t get a flight out in time for the game due to inclement weather in Chicago. Ball said he didn’t have any symptoms during his stint in quarantine so he was able to get back on the court last Friday.
Guard Alex Caruso (foot) missed Monday’s game but is “doing great,” according to Donovan, and has been participating in individual workouts recently. The Bulls wanted to give him a full practice day with contact before he played in a game, so if all goes to plan he could be on track for Friday’s game against the Wizards.
“I think if that [practice] goes well, he’ll be ready to play,” Donovan said. “We’ll just see how he responds to that, but the running, the workouts and the sprinting he’s been fine. He really hasn’t had any contact at all. We let the sprain rest and then he’s been ramping up, conditioning.”